Tank Slapper Theory

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I hit a small bump in the road when i was accerlating hard and the front tire came up (unexpectedly) a few inches and when it came back down it must have been slightly crooked and straight into a slapper. It's an ugly feeling and it happens so fast.

The only time I've gotten a shake was hard acceleration while shifting into 2nd. I makes a quick little snap and that's it. I've read on a few sites that my bike doesn't need a damper and that it's pretty stable. I can see that.

I've also heard that you let go and let the bike sort itself out. I suppose the gyroscopic motion of the wheel makes it want to straighten out and if you try to grip the bars harder and try to overcome it it will only make the situation worse. If it occurs in a corner I would guess the same theory applies but you better be ready to grab the bars again as soon as it stops because it will want to stand up and you want to have a fighting chance to try and keep it on the road. I'd think you would have to really be zooming through a corner for this to happen.

My tank slapper was pretty violent. I had no choice but to let go... not strong enough to fight it. Thought for sure I was going down. Bike straightened right up

And I think that is what causes people to lose it when they experience a tank slapper. They try to "fight" it or "control" it. Cdill35 posted to videos in this thread. In the first one it appears he is trying to control/fight it. You see the end result of it. A motorcycle inherently wants to stay up while under power. That's why I think the best thing to do is relax/let go. Let the bike do what it naturally wants to do.....and that is to NOT fall down.

And I think that is what causes people to lose it when they experience a tank slapper. They try to "fight" it or "control" it. Cdill35 posted to videos in this thread. In the first one it appears he is trying to control/fight it. You see the end result of it. A motorcycle inherently wants to stay up while under power. That's why I think the best thing to do is relax/let go. Let the bike do what it naturally wants to do.....and that is to NOT fall down.

that slapper is too violent and at that speed/curve he doesn't have a chance. He's a pro racer and not a noobs or new to these type of things.

that slapper is too violent and at that speed/curve he doesn't have a chance. He's a pro racer and not a noobs or new to these type of things.

You lost me, all tank slappers are violent. And why didn't he have a chance? I know where you are coming from. I see videos like that and at first glance I think to myself he's screwed, there was nothing he could do to save it. Then I see a video like the one pictured below, also a pro, also a violent tank slapper, also at a high speed and also in a curve. Yet he doesn't lose it. Then I have to ask myself why? There has to be a reason.

Then I see a video like the one pictured below, also a pro, also a violent tank slapper, also at a high speed and also in a curve. Yet he doesn't lose it. Then I have to ask myself why? There has to be a reason.

The guy in the video tells you exactly why. To quote the announcer "He was very lucky".

As has been stated in this thread, at high speeds it's as much luck as it is skill or experience. It doesn't always come down to skill, because there are a lot of variables you cannot control or may not even account for.

Good discussion. That last video was amazing. Almost seems like every bike has to jump off that turn. Not sure if I was seeing things past the obvious but the guy on the left had a mini wobble/tank slapper as well. If you notice the middle guys wheel came up and back down perfectly thus no tank slapper.

The guy in the video tells you exactly why. To quote the announcer "He was very lucky".

As has been stated in this thread, at high speeds it's as much luck as it is skill or experience. It doesn't always come down to skill, because there are a lot of variables you cannot control or may not even account for.

It's true that luck plays a HUGE part in a tank slapper recovery, but it is also true that tenseing up on the bars can aggravate one.
The steep steering head angle on modern bikes combined with fork/;chassis flex will take the action of the tires squirming and amplify that motion. If you grab the bars more tightly you are increasing the strength of the connection between the wobbling forks and the stiffer chassis.
If you can relax your grip or even let the bars go for a moment, the natural stability of the bike will take over and the slapper can end.

That is pretty hard to do when the bike is flopping around and you may need to manuver.
There is no guarantee that it will work but if you can do it, it is worth a try.

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